To finish, or not to finish, your course of antibiotics? There’s little doubt that you shouldn’t stop midstream.
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New reports that stopping antibiotics when you feel better is better for you could do more harm than good. But it has reopened the debate on how long antibiotics should be used.
Green colonies of allergenic fungus Penicillium from air spores on a petri dish. Penicillin was the first antibiotic.
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We’ve been told for a long time that we must take all of our antibiotics. But maybe we didn’t need so many to begin with. Here’s why.
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An article in a leading health journal causes confusion and undoes years of hard work in raising awareness of antibiotic resistance.
We’re increasingly seeing bugs in Australia resistant to many antibiotics. We’re yet to see one resistant to ALL antibiotics.
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In the last decade we’ve seen a ten-fold increase in the number of bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotics.
Our study suggests setting targets for antibiotic prescribing is the next step to curb their overuse.
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A study that shows GPs are prescribing about five million too many antibiotic scripts a year means we have to take a radical new approach to reducing use of these drugs.
An epidemic of Group B meningococcal disease in New Zealand prompted the development of a vaccine, which also provides moderate protection against gonorrhoea.
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As the WHO calls for urgency to address antibiotic resistance in gonorrhoea, new research shows that a vaccine developed against an unrelated disease offers protection.
Modern diets are changing the compositions of our gut microbiota, and with that, our personalities.
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For most of the twentieth century, we were at war with microbes, leading to substantial changes in our body’s ecosystem. This has changed our diets, disease profile, moods and even personalities.
Young people are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections, but they face several barriers to getting tested.
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Despite significant medical advances, rates of sexually transmitted infections are on the rise, including some old foes like syphilis.
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Globalised drug manufacturing is adding to the problem of antimicrobial resistance.
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Both GPs and patients need to wake up to the immediate risk that antibiotic misuse poses.
Scientists have found an unexpected use for breast milk.
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A compound in human breastmilk can reverse antibiotic resistance in bugs such as MRSA. Researchers hope we can soon start trialling it.
Science is stepping up – what about you?
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Resistance is growing but there are ways that hospitals – as well as the public – can stem the tide.
Stainless steel is the metal of choice in hospitals.
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Lack of knowledge and perceived cost issues could be holding back the fight against the superbugs.
Bacterial colonies on a petri dish.
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This research could provide an answer to some of the problems posed by antibiotic resistance.
Woman resisting pills. Via Shutterstock.
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Antibiotic resistance is a major health threat that causes almost 700,000 deaths a year, and its toll is expected to grow. Here are some things you can do to offer your own resistance.
According to the World Health Organisation, antimicrobial resistance is now at crisis point.
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The US Centers for Disease Control has reported a woman in her 70s has died of overwhelming sepsis caused by a bacterium that was resistant to all available antibiotics.
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A global trend to regulate frequent antibiotic use in livestock and poultry production is emerging but Africa is still lagging behind.
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New research shows that the current strategy of ‘antibiotic mixing’ doesn’t work.
Marvellous maggots.
Yamni Nigam
They may make you feel squeamish but maggots have some incredible medicinal benefits.
Antibiotic use is a big issue as the more we use, the more likely bugs are to grow resistant, rendering them useless.
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Health minister Sussan Ley said Australia’s use of antibiotics in general practice is 20% above the OECD average. Is that right?